University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Program: A Comprehensive Overview
Aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan (U-M) offers a robust curriculum designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the rapidly evolving field of aerospace technology. The program emphasizes a strong foundation in fundamental principles, practical application through laboratory experiences, and opportunities for specialization through technical electives. It prepares students to address the challenges of designing, constructing, and operating vehicles that move above the Earth's surface, including airplanes, helicopters, rockets, and spacecraft.
Program Objectives and Curriculum
The aerospace engineering program at U-M is structured to achieve specific educational objectives. These objectives are accomplished through a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes fundamentals in basic sciences, mathematics, and the humanities. The curriculum integrates classroom instruction with laboratory experiences in the fundamental disciplines of aerospace engineering. Real-life problems in aerospace and related areas are emphasized in the applications of theory.
The degree program provides students with a broad education in engineering by requiring basic courses in aerodynamics and propulsion, structural mechanics, flight dynamics and control systems, and aerospace software. These courses cover fundamentals and their application to the analysis, design, and construction of aircraft, spacecraft, and other vehicular systems and subsystems.
- Aerodynamics and Propulsion: These courses treat fluid and gas flow around bodies and through turbojet engines and rocket nozzles. They also study large- and small-scale air motion in the atmosphere and its relationship to environmental and noise problems.
- Structural Mechanics: In courses on structural mechanics, lightweight structures are studied from their strength, elastic, stiffness, stability, and dynamic behavior. Modern aerospace structures typically require the use of composite materials, advanced multifunctional materials, and thin-walled constructions.
- Flight Dynamics and Control Systems: Flight dynamics and control systems courses deal with the dynamic behavior of vehicles and systems as a whole, their stability and controllability both by human pilots and as autonomous systems.
- Aerospace Software: Aerospace software deals with fundamentals of computer science, development and use of software for simulating aerospace analysis, and embedded sensors and software systems. Applications include flight software, embedded computing for on-board control, virtual wind tunnel simulations, and optimization of structural, aerodynamic and propulsion systems.
Integration of all these subjects takes place in the capstone aircraft design course or space system design course that is chosen by students.
Flexibility and Specialization
The aerospace engineering program offers considerable flexibility through technical and general electives, in which students have an opportunity to study in greater depth any of the areas mentioned above. In addition, other technical elective areas are available to aerospace engineering students, including aerophysical sciences, environmental studies, computers, person-machine systems, and transportation. Academic concentrations are topics in which a student, through the use of technical and free electives and in consultation with their advisor, could decide to focus.
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While students do not declare a formal concentration, the aerospace engineering program provides a robust and holistic dive into the aerospace engineering field, which includes aerodynamics and propulsion, autonomous systems and control, computation, space systems, and structures and materials. The autonomous systems and control specialization has a strong aerospace emphasis as illustrated by current research on aircraft dynamics, flight planning, flight control, and autonomous flight; dynamics and control of attitude systems; astrodynamics; guidance, navigation, and associated flight systems; flexible aerospace vehicles; and acoustics and flow control.
Degree Programs
The University of Michigan offers a range of degree programs in aerospace engineering to cater to different academic and career goals. These include:
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.): This undergraduate program provides a clear understanding of the fields most pertinent to aerospace engineering. By emphasizing real-life issues, the program enables students to learn the most up-to-date applications of classic engineering theories. At U-M, students in aerospace engineering begin with a set of courses that provide a background in all the fundamental aspects of the field.
- Five-Year Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Study (SUGS) Program: The five-year Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Study (SUGS) Program permits students to receive the B.S.E. and M.S.E. degrees (or the B.S.E. and M.Eng. degrees) upon completion of a minimum of 149 credit hours: up to 9 credit hours can be double-counted between the undergraduate and Master’s degrees. Eligible students typically apply to the Aerospace Engineering SUGS program in their senior year and are required to have a minimum graduating GPA of 3.5.
- Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.): This degree is designed for students who desire a curriculum focused on the scientific aspects of aerospace engineering. A total of 30 credit hours is required, including: five, 500-level or higher classes in aerospace engineering - which includes graduate-level engineering courses that have been cross-listed with aerospace engineering courses, and two approved courses in mathematics. Students are encouraged to take advantage of directed study and become involved in research as part of their M.S.E. experience although it is not required to graduate. Admission requirements include a strong performance in an undergraduate program in engineering or science and competitive Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.
- Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Space Engineering: The M.Eng. in Space Engineering degree provides a comprehensive set of courses and training in space-related science and engineering and the systems approach to the design and management of complex space systems. It develops both the theoretical and applied aspects of space engineering.
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): The Ph.D. degree requires a strong academic foundation and an ability to carry out independent research. A student must take five core doctoral courses selected by the student and approved by the student’s research advisor. A student must complete training for the College of Engineering’s Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (RCRS) program. There are two mandatory preliminary examinations. The first is an oral coursework examination covering material taught in the five selected core courses administered by the preliminary examination committee. This examination is offered twice a year. The second is an oral research examination, which takes place some months after the coursework examination. To demonstrate their ability to pursue and solve an original research problem the student must present the research results in a written dissertation and defend the dissertation at a final oral defense. The Ph.D. degree is awarded upon successful completion of a Ph.D. dissertation, a Ph.D.
Research Opportunities
Our graduate students perform cutting-edge research in aerospace engineering-related subjects. Computation plays a fundamental role in the design, analysis, and operation of modern Aerospace systems. Applications include flight software, embedded computing for on-board control, optimization of structural, aerodynamic, and propulsion systems, etc. Broadly speaking, our research is organized into two branches: Computer science and Computational science, with a healthy overlap. Computer science relates more to the software and avionics part of the research, while computational science relates to analyzing, modeling, and designing the physical system.
Tuition and Fees
During the 2022-2023 academic year, part-time undergraduate students at U-M paid an average of $2,458 per credit hour if they came to the school from out-of-state. The average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates are shown in the table below.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $17,977 | $59,775 |
| Fees | $332 | $332 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,126 | $1,126 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $13,856 | $13,856 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $2,572 | $2,572 |
Career Prospects
Aerospace engineers tackle the unique challenges that come with maneuvering vehicles safely and efficiently through the air. We combine advanced technologies and cutting-edge materials to design smaller, lighter, more efficient aircraft and spacecraft while finding innovative ways to power and control them. The median salary of aerospace engineering students who receive their bachelor's degree at U-M is $80,225. Graduates of the master's aerospace engineering program at U-M make a median salary of $108,023.
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Diversity and Inclusion
The University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Department is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. As a department, we are honored to have strong partners and advocates for young engineers. The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship has a primary goal of developing a pathway for typically underrepresented students into the aerospace industry.
Alumni Network
Each of these alumni are real people who were once in your shoes, deciding a major. Tap into our network of 85k+ engineering alumni. Our alumni span the globe, and their accomplishments and involvement are critical to helping us move the department forward.
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